Improvement in feeding-races tor stooz



J. C; RAMSEY.

Sheep Back.

Patented Aug. 27,1867.

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J. 'c. BAMSEY,' 0F .LE .ROY, OHIO, ASSIGN-OR o HIMSEIF Anus. M.

ENGLAND, or THE-SAME PLACE. Letters Patent No. 68,111, dated August 27, 1867.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it known that 'I,J. G. RAMSEY, of Le Roy, in the county of Medina, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new anduseful Improvementsin Sheep-Feeding Racks, as; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and complete description of the some, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in whieh i Figure 1 is aside view of the rack.

..Figu1'e-2 is a top yiew.

Figure 3, a view of the bottom.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the views.

This rack consists of an oblong square box, A, fig. 1, the length and size of which being more. or less according to the number and size of the sheep to be fed and the convenienceof handling. 1 B, the top of this .box, is a rack, of which B are theside pieces and C the slats, which are placed far enough apart to allow the sheep to thrust in their noses but not'their heads. The rack is hinged to 'the side'of the box, which permits of its being thrown up for the purpose of putting in the hay, and when elosed'is secured thus by the hook and eye D. D, the bottom of this box or rack, is not fixed, but is loosely fitted to the i nside, so as to allow of its being raised upward and downward within by means of ,the coiled springs E, fig. 3, which, however, may be of any shape" applicable, placed underthe bottom on cross-pieces F, and to which'they are secured. Across the middle of the bottom of the box is a tie, 3r, fig. 3,';tl1rongh which depends a loop or staple, H. Lying upon this slat is a slide, I, pivoted'at the point a: to the edge of the box, and the free end of which held in place by a staple, J. The purpose of this slide is to hold the bottom of thebox down, which is'done by sliding it so as to cause the pinK to pass through theloop, as shown in fig. 3.

. The practical use of this rack or feed-box is as follows: The bottom, being forceddown and secured by .the slide and pin referred to, the box i's then filled with bay. The top or rack being thus let down and fastened bylthe hooks 'D, the pin is then drawn-out of the loop. The bottom thus liberated is forced upward by the springa-which presses the hay against the under side of the rack within reach of the sheep, and which is constantly being pressed upward as fast as it is eaten away above. By this arrangement the sheep are prevented from thrustingin their heads among the hey, breathing upon it, and pushing it about, whereby much hay isoften lost, as it becomes foul and oflen-sive to them. Theyare also less liable to waste their feed-bypulling it out and dropping apart of it under'their feet, as. they are compelledto feed from the top of the rack, which catches the waste as it falls, and thusit is saved, which is'not the ease with the ordinary racks, from the side of which the sheep' take the'hay. v v t By having the bottom D made with slats or' railsand drawers placed under the rack, which can be easily and readily done, all the seed that may fall from the hay can be saved, and thus add to the economy of feeding. What I claim as my improvement, and desire to secure Letters Patent, is-- v The combination and arrangement of the box A, rack 13, springs E, slide I, adjustable bottom I), and loop or staple H, for the purpose and in the manner herein set fort J. G. RAMSEY,

Witnesses:

J. H. Bonmnes,

J. HOLMES. 

